expression
too much is as bad as too little; the last drop makes the cup run over
A classical proverb warning that excess can be just as harmful as deficiency. Often used to caution against overdoing something, even if it is good in moderation.
過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとしというから、勉強も休憩もバランスが大切だ。
As the saying goes, 'too much is as bad as too little,' so balance between study and rest is important.
親切も度を越すと迷惑になる。過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとしだ。
Even kindness becomes a nuisance when overdone. It's a case of 'the last drop makes the cup run over.'
A slightly longer variant with 猶 (なお), meaning 'still' or 'indeed,' which emphasizes the comparison. The core meaning is identical.
Refers to the Confucian concept of the golden mean or moderation. While 過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとし is a specific proverb, 中庸 is a broader philosophical term.
A Japanese rendering of a classical Chinese proverb from the Analects of Confucius (過猶不及). The Japanese form uses classical grammar: 過ぎたる (excessive) and 及ばざる (insufficient) with the quotative がごとし (is like).